Mahabharata 1.194.6 — Adi Parva, Adhyaya 194, Shloka 6
कर्णस्य मन्त्रः — Duryodhana-प्रति नीति-विचारः
Karna’s Counsel on Strategy toward the Pāṇḍavas
इच्छया ब्रूहि तत् सत्यं सत्यं राजसु शोभते । इष्टापूर्तेन च तथा वक्तव्यमनृतं न तु
icchayā brūhi tat satyaṃ satyaṃ rājasu śobhate | iṣṭāpūrtena ca tathā vaktavyam anṛtaṃ na tu ||
உமது விருப்பத்தோடு அதைப் பற்றிய உண்மையைச் சொல்லுங்கள். அரசர்களுக்கு உண்மையே அழகு; அதுவே அவர்களின் ஆபரணம். யாகமும் பொதுநலச் செயல்களும் போற்றப்பட்டாலும், பொய் சொல்லக் கூடாது—உண்மையே சொல்ல வேண்டும்.
वैशम्पायन उवाच
Educational Q&A
Truthful speech is presented as a primary royal virtue: truth is what truly adorns a king, and even the merit of sacrifices (iṣṭa) and public benefactions (pūrta) does not justify speaking falsehood.
Vaiśampāyana, as narrator, frames an ethical instruction within the dialogue: he urges that the matter be stated voluntarily and truthfully, emphasizing that rulers should uphold truth and avoid untruth.
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